Process of hardening copper.



UNITED STATES PAT:ldlN'I" OFFICE. RosEMoND TANDERSON, F PARKERSBURG, EsT VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO EMMETT JEFFERSON ANDERSON, TRUSTEE, OF PARKERSBURG,

WEST VIRGINIA.

' PROCESS OF HARDENING COPPER.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

' the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to processes for hardening copper, the object of the invention being to enable the tempering of copper to various degrees of hardness, so that it may be employed for a variety of uses from which its natural qualities prohibit.

In carrying out the method or process embodied in the present invention a crucible of suitable dimensions and material is employed, and in the bottom thereof is placed a quantity ofclean white sand to a suitabledepth, but preferably covering the entire bottom of the crucible. Upon this layer of sand is placed chemicall pure zinc, preferably in sheet form, altliough it ma b'e granulated, the sheet or body of zinc, owever, having referably an area greater than that of the ody of copper to be tempered, Upon the zinc is placed a second layer ofclean white sand to a depth of about one inch, although the exact depth is not essential, and upon the second layer of sand is disposed the copper bod to be tempered. More clean white sand istlien packed closely over and around the copper to a de th of about'one inch above the copper, an upon this sand is placed another sheet or other body of zinc having an area referably greater than that of the copper body. A final covering of clean white sand is then supplied. When the crucible has been repared as above described, it is subjectecij with its contents, to a gradual heat until the crucible, when of iron, isa cherry red, and the heat is maintained for a period sufiiciently long to heat the 00 per body uniformly throu h, after which t e crucible audits contents isallowed to slowly cool.

During the process above described'the zinc is volatilized and the resulting gas chem-. cally unites with the copper, the degree 0 hardness of the .copper depending upon th quantity of gas absorbed, and consequently upon the quantity of zinc volatilized.

It is desirable that the zinc shall have a continuous superficial area and also that the sheet-zinc .be used to prevent access to'the copper of any foreign gas or gases, such as might arise from the material of the crucible. During this process the zinc causes the copper to change from a soft condition to a hard 7 condition.

It will be understood that inpractice Inodi fumes of zinc and out of contact with the zinc from which the fumes arise.

2. The process of hardening copperwhich consists in disposing the copper between bodies of'zinc and then heating the zinc to the point of volatilization and simultaneously heating the copper to a temperature suflicient to cause it to-combine with the volatilized zinc.

3. The process of hardening copper which consists 1n disposing the copper between bodies of zinc in spaced relation thereto and subjecting the entire mass to a temperature sufficient to volatilize the zinc.

In testimony whereof I afl'ix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROSEMOND T. ANDERsoNf Witnesses:

- FRANK C. HALL,

GEo. II. CHANDLEE. 

